Waterproof container for perishable products

ABSTRACT

A waterproof container for shipping perishable products such as cut flowers and for displaying such products for sale or inspection after they arrive at their destination. The body and cover of this container are each made of one piece of wax impregnated cardboard or corrugated paper stock scored along fold lines so that both body and cover are easily folded into shape. Suitable fastening means are provided to hold these in their folded shapes. The cover is also provided with scoring lines at predetermined areas thereof where holes are to be formed therethrough for receiving the bunches of flowers after they have been delivered to their destination. The cut stems of the flowers are inserted into the cover holes and extend into the body of the container which is provided with a predetermined amount of water of sufficient depth so that the bottom portions of the cut flowers are immersed therein to keep the flowers fresh while they are displayed for sale.

[ Aug. 28, 1973 WATERPROOF CONTAINER FOR PERISI-IABLE PRODUCTS [76]Inventor: David L. Stidolph, PO. Box 158,

Salinas, Calif. 93901 i 22 Filed: Aug. 20, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 173,421

[52] US. Cl 2116/4514, 47/34.1l, 47/4l.1l, 206/46 PL, 206/DIG. 9,206/DIG. 15

[51] Int. Cl 365d 5/50, B65d 85/00 [58] Field of Search47/34.l1,4l,4l.ll; 206/45.14, 46 PL, 46 L, DIG. 9, DIG. 15;

229/3.l, 31 PS, 51 D [56] Relerences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,779,459 l/l957 Waterman 47/47.11 X 2,734,349 2/1956 Repicing et 47/41X 1,565,166 12/1925 Labombarde.... 229/3.1 X 1,176,932 3/1916 Smith206/DIG. 9 2,348,483 5/1944 Lacy et 206/DIG. 9 -1,632,412 6/1927McCrystal 229/51 D X 3,559,869 2/1971 Reynolds 229/31 FS 3,399,8199/1968 Rennie et al.. 229/3.1 X 2,205,332 6/1940 Aste 206/DIG. 93,524,279 8/1970 Adams 47/34.11 UX 2,317,047 '4/1943 Foote 206/79 X3,127,01 l 3/1964 Weddle 206/46 PL UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS45,870 6/1899 Germany 47/41 1' Mi i France 206/D1G. 9 Great Britain206/46 PL Primary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross Assistant Examiner-Steven E.Lipman Attorney-Harper Allen and Ben J. Chromy [57] ABSTRACT Awaterproof container for shipping perishable products such as cutflowers and for displaying such products for sale or inspection afterthey arrive at their destination. The body and cover of this containerare each made of one piece of wax impregnated cardboard or corrugatedpaper stock scored along fold lines so that both body and cover areeasily folded into shape. Suitable fastening means are provided to holdthese in their folded shapes. The cover is also provided with scoringlines at predetermined areas thereof where holes are to be formedtherethrough for receiving the bunches of flowers after they have beendelivered to their destination. The cut stems of the flowers areinserted into the cover holes and extend into the body of the containerwhich is provided with a predetermined amount of water of sufficientdepth so that the bottom portions of the cut flowers are immersedtherein to keep the flowers fresh while they are displayed for sale.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1913 3,754,642

I a 1 22 l5b 10/ |6b 2s WATERPROOF CONTAINER FOR PERISHABLE PRODUCTSDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a container forshipping and displaying perishable products such as cut flowers.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved container forshipping and displaying perishable products such as cut flowers, saidcontainer being constructed so that it may be economically andefficiently manufactured and also serves to display the products in aneffective and attractive manner after they have been delivered to theirdestination.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved combinedshipping and display container for perishable products such as cutflowers, said container being made of waterproof corrugated cardboard toreceive the perishable products during shipment and to receive aquantity of water in which the cut ends of the products are immersedwhen the products are erected for display purposes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedcombined shipping and display container for perishable products such ascut flowers, said container being provided with a cover having scoredareas at which holes may be punched therethrough for receiving the stemsof the cut flowers whereby the flowers may be supported erect anddisplayed in an effective and attractive manner.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification,claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an improvedcontainer which is folded from a blank in such a way as to provide awatertight and rugged container that is useful both for shipping anddisplaying perishable products such as cut flowers, celery, asparagusand the like. Both the body and cover of the container are made of waximpregnated corrugated paperboard, for example, so that the container issubstantially waterproof and may also be used for holding apredetermined quantity of water as well as reduce evaporation from theperishable products such as cut flowers during shipment thereof.Predetermined spaced areas of the cover are provided with scoring whichdefines holes that are to be punched through the cover for receiving thestems of cut flowers that are to be displayed. Thus, after the flowersare delivered at their destination they are removed and a predeterminedquantity of water is placed into the container. Holes are punched in thescored areas of the container cover and the flower bunches are insertedinto these holes so that the cut ends of the flower stems are immersedin the water in the container whereby the flowera are kept fresh whilethey are on display. This container is also made watertight so thatwater may be placed therein or a quantity of ice may be placed thereinto refrigerate or cool the products therein. It is obvious that otherperishable products such as cut celery asparagus, etc., may be shippedand displayed in this improved container.

Further details and features of this invention will be set forth in thefollowing specification, claims and drawing in which briefly:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cardboard forming the body of thiscontainer, said body being provided with score lines along which foldsare made to erect the body into its box configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container partially broken away toshow the perishable articles positioned therein and also to show the endconstruction of the body;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view showing the container with bunches offlowers positioned in holes formed into the cover thereof so that theflowers are held erect for display purposes;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of an area of the cover scored so that a holemay be punched therethrough;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the cover area shown in FIG. 4 showing thehole actually punched therethrough; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing an end portion of the containerillustrating how an end fold of the container may be gripped forlifting.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference numeral 10 designates theblank of the container body which is made of corrugated cardboardimpregnated with wax or the like to make it substantially waterproof.The blank 10 is provided with two score lines 11 and 12 which run thelength of the blank and are parallel to the long sides thereof. Scorelines 11 and 12 define the side panels 13 and 14, respectively, of thecontainer. Score lines 15 and 16 are provided in the end portions of theblank 10 and are parallel to the short sides thereof. End panels 17 and18 are defined on the end portions of the body by the score lines 15 and16, respectively.

The body of the container may be formed by first erecting the sidepanels 13 and 14 by folding the blank along score lines 11 and 12,respectively, and thereafter erecting the end panels, 17 and 18 byfolding the blank along score lines 15 and 16, respectively. If thepanels 13 and 14 are erected first then the blank is folded along thelines 11, 11a, 11b-12, 12a and 12b. Thereafter in erecting the endpanels 17 and 18 pressure must be exerted on the bottom areas of thesepanels l7 and 18 to lift them into their erected position.

In applying pressure on the bottom area of the panel 17 the blank foldsalong score lines 15, 15a and 15b and at the same time folding takesplace along score lines 17a and 17b and the folds along score lines 11band 12b are reversed. Likewise, when pressure is exerted on the bottomof side panel 18 to produce folding along the score lines 16, 16a and16b, folding also takes place along score lines 18a and l8bwhile thefolds along the score lines 11a and 120 are reversed.

During the erecting of the end panel 17 triangular panel 19 istuckedunder the triangular panel 20 as score line 12b is erected to beadjacent to score line 15a being at the same time triangular panel 21 istucked under triangular panel 22 and score line 11b is moved adjacent toscore line 15b. Similarly, when end panel 18 is erected triangular panel23 is tucked under triangular panel 24 and score line 12a is movedadjacent to score line 160. At the same time triangular panel 25 istucked under triangular panel 26 and score line 11a is moved adjacent toscore line 16b.

The edge portions of the end panels are then stapled together by wirestaples such as the staples 26 shown in FIG. 2 holding the edge portionsof panel 17 fastened to triangular panels 19, 20, 21 and 22. The otherend panels 18, 23, 24, 25 and 26 are likewise fastened together. Woodenbraces are placed between the side panels 13 and 14 and they areattached to these panels by nails or the like. Triangular panel 22 isfastened on the outer sides of triangular panel 20 and end panel 17 sothat suitable space is provided between the panel 22 and panel 17 toprovide a finger grip as shown in FIG. 6 whereby the container may bereadily lifted and handled. A similar finger grip is provided on theother end of the carton.

A cover 28 is provided to this container and this cover is also made ofcorrugated cardboard impregnated with wax or similar material to make itsubstantially waterproof. Cover 28 is provided with an apron 29 which isadapted to enclose the upper portions of the body when the cover isapplied thereto. Cover 28 is provided with scored areas 30 to 35,inclusive, so that these areas may be readily punched inward to provideholes through the cover after the container has been used for shipping apredetermined number of bunches of cut flowers.

When the cut flowers 36 are brought to their destination the cover 28 isremoved from the container. Holes are then punched through the cover 28in the scored areas 30 to 35, inclusive. To facilitate punching theseholes these areas are provided with cuts 37 which radiate from a centraluncut part 39. Score lines 38 are provided around each of these areas.When pressure is exerted on the top of the area the central uncutportion 39 tears and the triangular parts of the area fold downward onscore lines 38 as shown in FIG. to provide a relatively large holethrough the cover. Six such holes are shown provided in the cover 28 asshown in FIG. 3. However, a greater or lesser number may be provided asdesired. The bunches of flowers 36 are then withdrawn from the containerand inserted into the holes formed in the cover.

Each bunch 36 is provided with a cellophane wrapper 40 which holds thecut flowers in the bunch in predetermed shape. After the cut flowers areremoved from the container a predetermined quantity of water is placedtherein as indicated at 41 in FIG. 3. The cover 28 is placed on thecontainer and the bunches of flowers are inserted into the holesprovided in the top 28 so that the bottom portions of the flower stemsare immersed in the water to keep the cut flowers fresh and display themin an effective and attractive manner to prospective customers.

This container may be made waterproof by lining the interior of the bodyand cover with plastic such as vinyl or by impregnating the interiorsurfaces thereof with plastic which may be sprayed on said surfaces.Also while FIG. 2 of the drawings show the cut flowers as lying flattherein during shipping, certain cut flowers may be shipped positionedupright in the container. if desired, the cut ends of the flowers may beimmersed in water during shipment when the flowers are upright.

Mixed loads of perishable products may be placed into the container,particularly if the products are upright therein and the productsshipped by the most economical means such as, surface transports or bulkrefrigerated mixed commodity loads. Thus such perishable products mayreach markets, under refrigeration, that are not now reached except byair transport.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, itwill be understood that the inven' tion is capable of variation andmodification from the form shown so that the scope thereof should belimited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

l. A waterproof container for shipping and displaying perishableproducts such as cut flowers or the like, the combination comprising abox body of substantially waterproof material for receiving andtransporting a predetermined quantity of perishable products arranged inbunches with the cut ends of the products in each bunch being adjacentto each other, a seperate cover for said box body closing said bodywhile said products are being transported, said cover having apredetermined number of scored areas whereby holes may be formed atthese areas, each of said holes receiving at ieast one of the bunches ofperishable products removed from said box after said products aredelivered to their destination, said bunches being held in said holes inerect position, said box body receiving a predetermined quantity ofwater with the cut ends of said products supported in said holes in saidcover and being immersed in said water in display position.

2. A waterproof container for shipping and displaying perishableproducts such as cut flowers or the like, the combination as set forthin claim 1, said box body being substantially rectangular configurationand said cover fitting over the open top of said box, said scored areas7 of said cover being arranged in rows and said scored areas being wellspaced so that the cut flowers erected in bunches in said holes have theflower ends thereof spread for the display and viewing thereof.

3. A waterproof container for shipping and displaying perishableproducts such as cut flowers or the like, the combination as set forthin claim 1, further characterized in that said scored areas are eachprovided with cuts radiating from the center which is uncut and theboundary of each area is defined by scoring facilitating foldingtherealong whereby applying pressure selectively to each area tears theuncut center thereof prior to folding the area along the boundaryscoring to form a hole corresponding to the area.

i t i t

1. A waterproof container for shipping and displaying perishableproducts such as cut flowers or the like, the combination comprising abox body of substantially waterproof material for receiving andtransporting a predetermined quantity of perishable products arranged inbunches with the cut ends of the products in each bunch being adjacentto each other, a seperate cover for said box body closing said bodywhile said products are being transported, said cover having apredetermined number of scored areas whereby holes may be formed atthese areas, each of said holes receiving at least one of the bunches ofperishable products removed from said box after said products aredelivered to their destination, said bunches being held in said holes inerect position, said box body receiving a predetermined quantity ofwater with the cut ends of said products supported in said holes in saidcover and being immersed in said water in display position.
 2. Awaterproof container for shipping and displaying perishable productssuch as cut flowers or the like, the combination as set forth in claim1, said box body being substantially rectangular configuration and saidcover fitting over the open top of said box, said scored areas of saidcover being arranged in rows and said scored areas being well spaced sothat the cut flowers erected in bunches in said holes have the flowerends thereof spread for the display and viewing thereof.
 3. A waterproofcontainer for shipping and displaying perishable products such as cutflowers or the like, the combination as set forth in claim 1, furthercharacterized in that said scored areas are each provided with cutsradiating from the center which is uncut and the boundary of each areais defined by scoring facilitating folding therealong whereby applyingpressure selectively to each area tears the uncut center thereof priorto folding the area along the boundary scoring to form a holecorresponding to the area.